Land

Emma Rogers

Published At:2017-07-15 10:06:54

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a plot of land. Alive though Land was, there were no other living things to disturb the quiet wilderness. Then, along came Bacteria: a speck of life, small, but significant. Land grew curious by the prospect of a new companion, someone to fill the qu...

<p>Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a plot of land. Alive though Land was, there were no other living things to disturb the quiet wilderness. Then, along came Bacteria: a speck of life, small, but significant. Land grew curious by the prospect of a new companion, someone to fill the quiet days. Land watched as Bacteria made a small hole in Land and rested at the bottom, well out of sight. Land tentatively grew a ring of bright green grass around the hole as a greeting and brimmed with hope of a future friendship with Bacteria. But Bacteria had no response. Instead, he simply multiplied, ignoring Land. Land grew afraid upon realizing that Bacteria might not be friendly, after all. So, just to be safe, he grew his green grass and thick brush right over the speck of life.</p>
<p>And so, Land lived on. Centuries passed with not one change. Life was peaceful, but boring – until, suddenly, the gods of Earth made an earthquake. A crack ran through Land: a fault line. Two plates pressed together and wrestled across Land, pushing up against each other and rising to form a chain of huge mountains. The mighty mountains looked like perfect companions for Land, but there was no time to talk with his newfound friends, for the gods of Earth shook Land once more. The mountains crumbled to dust and embedded themselves in Land. All, that is, but one mountain. Land admired this mountain and named it “Survival of the Sturdiest,” for it stood strong, the last one left. But true to its name, the mountain was so concerned with survival that it paid no attention to overeager Land. Nevertheless, Land took care to make the grass especially green around the mountain.</p>
<p>Then came a new species: humankind. Land watched as the first humans farmed on him. Though Land was vast, they kept to one corner of his fertile grounds and respected him for being their home. Farming felt good, their trowels like a massage. As Land, still in need of a lasting friendship, watched the farmers, he prayed that, one day, they would care for him as they did their crops.</p>
<p>Then, humans evolved. They took over more and more of poor Land, and one day, they chopped “Survival of the Sturdiest” right in half. Sturdy as the mountain was, he was no match for the destructive monsters. Land became angry. He scrunched himself together to form a huge volcano. <em>This was good,</em> the humans thought. <em>A new tourist destination! </em>They built road...